Test Bank For Aging And Society Canadian Perspectives 7th Edition

CHAPTER 1: AGING TODAY MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. Which of the following is given in the text as a reason for studying aging? a. to help oneself live the best old age possible b. to enable people to avoid or reverse the effects of aging c. to enable people to make old age as inexpensive a time of life as it can be d. to learn how to work with elderly clients ANS: D REF: 2-3 BLM: REM 2. As of 2011, what percentage of the population comprised older Canadians? a. 16.0% b. 15% c. 9.1% d. 6.8% ANS: B REF: 2 BLM: REM 3. By 2036, approximately what percentage of the population will comprise older Canadians as predicted by Statistics Canada? a. 9% b. 19% c. 25% d. 34% ANS: C REF: 2 BLM: REM 4. As society ages, what will change in the Canadian social structure? a. Poverty will increase as more people enter old age. b. The government will face economic crisis as pension costs rise. c. The mass media will promote ageism. d. The healthcare system will add programs to prevent illness before it occurs. ANS: D REF: 2 BLM: HO 5. Which of the following is an example of a social structure? a. the education system b. the aging process c. the government d. the police ANS: A REF: 2 BLM: HO 6. What effect does an aging society have on the Canadian family? a. an increase in the number of people living in three- and four-generation families b. a decrease in the number of people who become grandparents during their lifetime c. an erosion of values as extended family structures fragment d. an increase in financial responsibility placed on elder family members ANS: A REF: 2 BLM: HO 7. How will the healthcare system have to adapt as Canadian society ages? a. by decreasing the attention given to chronic ailments such as diabetes and arthritis b. by favouring the treatment of more acute illnesses c. by changing public opinion about old age d. by trying to prevent illness before it happens ANS: D REF: 2 BLM: HO 8. Dr. Clarke is conducting a research experiment that is studying the process of aging among older Canadians. What is the name for this social science? a. tautology b. ageism c. gerontology d. aeonology ANS: C REF: 2 BLM: HO 9. What are the two points of view that gerontologists use to study aging? a. economics and social structures b. the family and the education system c. bioethics and economics d. the individual and society ANS: D REF: 2 BLM: REM 10. What did Unwin and colleagues’ (2008) research find out about perceptions of aging? a. People know little about aging. b. Old age is seen as a time of weakness and death. c. Some attitudes towards the elderly have possibly worsened. d. Most people’s knowledge about older people is based on myth or fear. ANS: C REF: 3 BLM: REM 11. Your uncle Ken has just retired from the workforce, and he needs to find an activity that will keep him in touch with his community. According to recent research found in your textbook, which of the following activities would be a beneficial activity for your uncle? a. reading books to his grandchildren b. baking cookies c. working in his woodshop d. playing cards at a local library ANS: D REF: 4 BLM: HO 12. Which of the following accurately describes stereotypes? a. They prevent discrimination and ageism. b. They force people to confront the truth about the elderly. c. They often have some basis in reality. d. They exaggerate and distort the bad, while ignoring the good qualities of a group of people. ANS: C REF:5 BLM:HO 13. Which of the following presents a negative stereotype of aging? a. an elderly 84 year-old gentleman who plays with his grandchildren b. a 95-year-old woman who drives erratically c. a 76 year-old male who lives in a nursing home but has an alert memory d. an 82-year-old female who learns to do yoga at her recreational centre ANS: B REF:5 BLM:HO 14. While playing shuffleboard at the local seniors club, Mr. Jones jokes about Mr. Smith’s poor eyesight after Mr. Smith misses the scoring area. Mr. Jones’ derogatory comment is an example of which type of insult? a. the old goat curse b. the black sheep effect c. elderspeak d. ageism ANS: B REF: 6 BLM: HO 15. What do gerontologists call prejudice against older people? a. a negative stereotype b. geriatrics c. age dichotomy syndrome d. ageism ANS: D REF: 6-7 BLM: REM 16. Which of the following describes ageism in our culture? a. It is acquired from experience with the aged. b. It is a social component of the biological process. c. It is learned from a variety of sources. d. It is useful for maintaining cultural diversity. ANS: C REF: 8-9 BLM: HO 17. Researchers including Henneberg, Gilbert, and Ricketts (2010, 2008) have studied the treatment of older people in literature. What have these studies found? a. Overall, positive views of older people predominate. b. Negative traits in literature outnumber those in philosophy by two to one. c. Older people are stereotyped and children then hold negative views about them. d. Mysteries often portray older people as devious or manipulative. ANS: C REF: 8-9 BLM: REM 18. Sally has been researching mass media and the portrayal of older Canadians in the media. Her studies have generally shown that the mass media (such as television and the newspapers) tend to create which type of common image of older people? a. positive b. negative c. neutral d. colourful ANS: B REF: 8-9 BLM: HO 19. What did Palmore’s study of contemporary jokes find? a. that the elderly are always portrayed in a positive light b. that the elderly are never referred to jokingly c. that the elderly are stereotyped as impotent or unattractive d. that the elderly are often background characters ANS: C REF:10 BLM:REM 20. What is true of most humour connected to aging? a. It has a negative view of aging. b. It glosses over the real problems of aging in modern society. c. It has a neutral outlook on the aged. d. It actually reflects real problems that the aged face. ANS: A REF: 10 BLM: HO 21. What did George (2006) find in a review of the literature on life satisfaction in old age? a. Life satisfaction in old age increased. b. Life satisfaction in old age decreased. c. Life satisfaction in old age did not change. d. Life satisfaction in old age remains high. ANS: D REF: 10 BLM: REM 22. What did Cooke find in the observation of older workers? a. Most older workers did their work poorly. b. Employers valued experience over strength. c. Employers valued strong, young workers. d. Employers try to force older workers to retire early. ANS: D REF: 10 BLM: REM 23. According to the AARP study, what is the largest barrier for those aged 50 years and older when it comes to finding a job? a. age discrimination b. health status c. lack of skills d. higher absenteeism rates ANS: A REF: 10 BLM: REM 24. You are 49 years old and you were rejected for a job. You later find out that someone 10 years younger than you received the job because the employer thought that someone younger than you “would be more suitable to handle the rapid pace of the job environment.” What term is used to describe the excuse as to why an older person is rejected for a job? a. partiality b. bias c. euphemism d. favouritism ANS: C REF: 11 BLM: HO 25. What does the research on sociological aging show about older people? a. Older people feel dissatisfied with life. b. Older people live rich lives that contradict stereotypes. c. Older people live a poor quality of life. d. Older people view aging as a decline in lifestyle. ANS: B REF:11 BLM:REM 26. Which of the following terms does Toni Calasanti believe contains a more subtle form of ageism? a. aged b. elderly c. senior d. older ANS: D REF: 12-13 BLM: REM 27. 28. According to research by Baker and Gringart (2009), what method do older men use to deal with aging? a. They go on dates. b. They isolate themselves. c. They engage in physical fitness. d. They have cosmetic surgery. ANS: C REF: 13 BLM: REM According to Rozanova (2006), what do ageism and “positive aging” both promote? a. intergenerational equity b. ageing as a worthwhile goal c. a stereotyped, one-dimensional view of later life d. a balanced view of later life ANS: C REF:13 BLM:REM 29. Your grandmother Lilley still loves to jog, to bake pies, to travel the world, and to babysit her grandchildren. Although she is 86 years old, she still possesses a vim and vigour for life, and she vehemently denies that she is aging. What term does Catherine Mayer use to describe someone like your grandmother Lilley? a. immoral b. amortal c. immature d. amoral ANS: B REF: 13 30. What leads to a more positive view of aging? a. education b. interaction c. knowledge and satisfying contact d. experience ANS: C REF:15-16 BLM: HO BLM:HO 31. Samantha’s grandmother lives alone in a large city. She has arthritis and struggles with meal preparation and mobility issues around the city. Samantha notices that many older people are in similar situations as the Canadian population ages. Sam is experiencing a common fear that is reflected in ageism as the Canadian population focuses on population aging. What is that fear? a. a fear of an aging society b. a concern for the elderly c. a lack of trust in the elderly d. a fear of old age ANS: A REF:16 BLM:HO 32. How is the older population stereotyped? a. independent b. productive c. costly d. generous ANS: C REF:16-17 BLM:HO 33. What do changes in Canadian society suggest will happen to ageism in the future? a. It will increase. b. It will decrease. c. It will remain the same. d. It will cease to exist. ANS: B REF: 18 SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS BLM: HO 1. The textbook discusses the fact that many older people “live rich and complex lives that contradict the stereotypes.” Give examples of what this sentence actually means. ANS: Student answers should include the following:  people aged 50–70 have good incomes  people aged 50–70 have little or no mortgage  people aged 50–70 have no children to support  people aged 50–70 have money to spend  people aged 50–70 have a better education  people aged 50–70 have more active lifestyles REF: 11 2. Helen is a worker in a retirement home. She uses elderspeak, and her clients do not like it when she uses this type of speech with them. What is elderspeak? List examples of elderspeak, and then explain the effects of elderspeak upon older individuals. ANS: Student answers should include the following: “Elderspeak” is defined as a simplified speech like baby talk that some people use when they speak to older people. It stems from stereotyping older people as slow-witted. This form of speech uses few clauses, shorter phrases, more filler phrases (e.g., “like,” “you know”), words with fewer syllables, slower speech, and longer pauses. Elderspeak also includes the use of words like “dearie,” “cutie,” and “sweetie.” Elderspeak has a negative effect on the older person; it creates low self-esteem, it reduces a person’s ability to communicate effectively, it decreases the quality of interaction, and it reduces the older person’s sense of control. REF: 6 3. The textbook discusses several methods by which older adults can become victims of fraud. List and briefly explain how older people can be victimized by fraud. ANS: Student answers should include the following: Older people run a higher risk of being victims of fraud. Fraud is the number one crime against older Canadians (Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers 2010, 2). Examples of fraud include the following: 1. Home repair con artists look for homes that need repairs, give a low estimate, and ask for payment upfront, before any work gets done. Once the crook has the money, the work may never get done or it is done poorly with cheap materials. 2. Slamming occurs when a person’s phone is switched to another provider without the owner’s permission. 3. Cramming occurs when a person gets charged for phone services that he/she never ordered. 4. Money offers come from Nigerian sources in the form of emails. They promise to transfer large amounts of money to a person’s bank account but later demand money for transfer fees and other expenses. 5. Phishing targets older people with computers. The email will appear to come from a bank or a major online business. The person is asked to click on a link to verify information, and the thieves’ computer then redirects the person to a fake site that collects the login and password, which gives the thieves access to the person’s online account. REF: 4-5 ESSAY QUESTIONS 1. What is ageism? What types of ageism do you think are present in today’s society? List and three examples of ageism. discuss ANS: Student answers will vary, but should include the following: Ageism is defined as prejudice against older people. It is “a socially constructed way of thinking about older persons based on negative attitudes and stereotypes about aging and a tendency to structure society based on an assumption that everyone is young ...” Ageism can come in many forms against older people. Examples may include the following:  Older people are weak, sick, and dying.  People make fun of older people.  Older people are mostly ignored or rejected in society.  Older people are patronized or treated with less dignity.  Older people are treated as though they have a physical limitation.  Older people will be stereotyped in jokes, literature, and the media. REF: Chapter 1 2. Imagine that you made yourself up to be a 75-year-old person, similar to what Paul Baker did in the textbook. What kinds of challenges or obstacles would you face in your community if you went out to learn about society’s reactions to an older person? Discuss specific examples that you may encounter in your community, and how you would deal with them. ANS: Student answers will vary, but should include the following:  Very few people go out of their way to help older people.  Some people ignore older people.  People offer to placate, rather than help older people.  Older people feel like a burden to society.  Older people can become frustrated and angry.  Older people have to anticipate their every movement.  “the world gets bigger and faster for an old man.”  However, some communities engage older people, by the number of people that actually reside there (Baker discusses the differences between Vancouver and old Victoria). REF: 9  There were also the examples in Chapter 1 found earlier in the text regarding Jessie Taylor, found on pages 2 and 3. 3. Arrange an interview with your parents and/or your grandparents. Do they think they are aging well? How do your parents and/or grandparents feel about growing older? What kinds of challenges and obstacles do they face as they age? ANS: Student answers will vary, but should be related to concepts found within Chapter 1 of the text. REF: Chapter 1 CHAPTER 2: THEORIES AND METHODS MULTIPLE CHOICE 1. In 1980, the Gerontological Society surveyed 111 scholars to establish a core program for the field of gerontology. Though the experts disagreed as to the content and boundaries of the field, which of the following items did the scholars collectively believe? a. Three areas of study should form the core of the curriculum. b. The socioeconomic-environmental aspects of aging should be the main focus of courses at the introductory level. c. A consensus on the definition must be reached before gerontology can grow as a discipline. d. A comprehensive program would be difficult to construct because of problems in deciding what aspects of aging are the most important. ANS: A REF: 22 BLM: REM Which area of study in gerontology examines the physiological and health changes that occur as people age? a. physio-environmental studies b. cohort medical studies c. psycho-physiological studies d. biomedical studies ANS: D REF: 22 BLM: REM Which of the following would be an example of a psychosocial study in gerontology? a. formal social supports b. causes of dementia c. relationships between individuals and groups d. effects of healthcare systems ANS: C REF: 22 BLM: HO George is conducting research about the effects of aging on the educational structure as well as the effects of social structures on older people. Which area of gerontology is he studying? a. psychosocial studies b. socio-individual studies c. multi-stage development social studies d. socioeconomic-environmental studies ANS: D REF: 22 BLM: HO Which areas of research are combined in the field of social gerontology? a. socioeconomic-environmental, psychosocial, and practice-related research b. biomedical and socioeconomic-environmental research c. psychosocial, social policy, and social sciences research d. biological, psychological, and health sciences research ANS: A REF: 22 BLM: REM Which field looks at aging from the points of view of both the individual and the social system? a. geriatrics b. psychosocial studies 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. c. social gerontology d. didactic-senescence ANS: C REF: 22 BLM: REM Why do social gerontologists examine the biological and physical changes that occur in old age? a. to adapt the research obtained to their field of study b. to study the relationship between biological aging and personal relationships c. to see how the changes affect the individual or society as a whole d. to establish a unified basis for the studies of biomedical, psycho-social, and socioeconomic-environmental studies ANS: C REF: 23 BLM: HO What do social gerontologists use to guide their research and interpret the results of studies? a. statistics and demographics b. test sampling c. theories d. focus groups ANS: C REF: 23 BLM: REM How is a theory deemed to be a valuable tool for a researcher? a. It gives concrete and final answers to questions. b. It provides practical information for the development of social programs and interventions. c. It provides essential trivial information about aging. d. It explains all the facts about aging. ANS: B REF: 23 BLM: HO According to the text, how does a researcher select a theory to use in order to explain a set of research findings? a. according to the researcher’s sense of how the world works b. according to the original hypotheses of the study c. according to recent academic trends d. according to journal preferences and peer reviews ANS: A REF:23 BLM:REM Kayla is examining a theory that focuses on individuals and their interactions with one another, such as a brief confrontation at a parents’ school meeting. Which of the following is Kayla studying? a. micro-level b. interpersonal c. psychological d. organic ANS: A REF: 23 BLM: HO Which theories focus on social structure, social processes and problems, and their interrelationship? a. macro-level theories b. socio-political interactive theories c. global perspectives d. micro-level theories ANS: A REF: 23-24 BLM: REM 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. Which of the following would be an example of a phenomenon explained by micro-level theories? a. the effect of positive attitudes on older people b. the effect of industrialization on older peoples’ social status c. changes in memory with age d. how gender and income affect older people’s well-being ANS: C REF: 23-24 BLM: HO Which of the following is a criticism of micro-level theories? a. They oversimplify social life. b. They minimize the individual’s ability to act. c. They emphasize what people do rather than the economic and social conditions that cause them to act as they do. d. They support a definition of old age as a time of decline. ANS: C REF: 24 BLM: HO Which of the following is a criticism of the theories that examine aging in terms of the social structures that influence behaviour? a. that they are not well-supported by research b. that they underestimate people’s ability to overcome the limits of social structures c. that they focus too much on outcomes, and not enough on processes d. that they focus too much on perceptions, and not enough on actions ANS: B REF: 24 BLM: HO Which of the following methods assists social gerontologists to disentangle the effects of history, biology, and the social life on the aging person? a. theory b. concept c. evaluation d. model ANS: A REF: 23-24 BLM: REM Which aspect of social life does the interpretive perspective mainly focus on? a. micro-level b. reorganization c. problems d. functions ANS: A REF: 24 BLM: HO 18. Which perspective looks at how people define situations, create social order, and relate to one another? a. normative perspective b. interpretive perspective c. social perspective 19. d. ethnomethodology ANS: B REF: 24 BLM: REM Which perspective has historically been used the least by social gerontologists and is now making a resurgence over the last few decades? a. normative perspective b. psycho-social perspective 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. c. associative perspective d. interpretive perspective ANS: D REF: 24 BLM: REM Which type of theory exemplifies the interpretive perspective? a. social pathophysiology b. ethnocentrism c. symbolic interactionist d. disengagement ANS: C REF: 24 BLM: HO Weber developed the social phenomenological theory. What does Weber say the researcher needs to do in order to understand a social phenomenon? a. develop an unbiased description of the phenomena b. understand the meaning that people in the situation attach to the events and their actions c. develop a theory to clearly specify the relationships between people and events d. examine the social structures that enable the phenomenon to occur ANS: B REF: 25 BLM: REM The Elks Lodge is a Canadian club that has its foundations in social order and organization. The club’s first Canadian female Exalted Ruler, Debby Ray, follows which of the following concepts in which the individual is the originator of social order and organization? a. the interpretive perspective b. conflict theory c. subculture methodology d. face-to-face interactions ANS: A REF: 25 BLM: HO Which of the following is a problem with the interpretive perspective? a. It suggests that social life does not have quantifiable measures. b. It talks of social order and organization, without considering their source. c. It places subjective interpretations on objective phenomena. d. It does not focus enough on macro-level social phenomena. ANS: D REF: 25-26 BLM: HO Which of the following terms describes the theories within the interpretive perspective? a. interpretation constructionism b. situational constructionism c. social constructionism d. interactional constructionism ANS: C REF: 24 BLM: REM What are the basic units at work in the social system as described by functionalist theories? a. social institutions b. families c. individuals d. ethnic groups and cohorts ANS: A REF: 26 BLM: HO 26. According to structural functionalism, social institutions adjust to one another as the system responds to internal and external pressures to maintain which of the following? a. social evolution b. dynamic equilibrium c. static balance d. homeostasis ANS: B REF: 26 BLM: REM Structural functionalism sometimes draws an analogy between which of the following? a. group interactions and the postal system b. an individual and a social institution c. society and a living organism d. macro- and micro-level action ANS: C REF: 26 BLM: HO Which of the following is an assumption made by structural functionalism? a. Society changes and evolves in a negative direction more often than a positive direction. b. Functionalism draws connections only between micro-social structures and individuals’ actions. c. People conform to norms because of a belief in a society’s underlying value system. d. Social problems are natural responses, and should be allowed to resolve themselves. ANS: C REF: 26 BLM: HO How are social problems described in structural functionalism? a. as internal pressures for change b. as dysfunctions that should be corrected by planning c. as conflicts between social institutions d. as the initial reaction to social change and evolution ANS: B REF: 26 BLM: HO Which perspective is used most often by gerontologists? a. interactive perspective b. age-stratification perspective c. functionalist perspective d. conflict perspective ANS: C REF: 26 BLM: REM What is the focus of age stratification theory? a. the pressure that leads to the formation of social status and classes b. the transmission of social life from one generation to the next c. the movement of age cohorts during the life cycle d. how micro- and macro-level structures influence the individual’s experience of old age ANS: C REF: 26-27 BLM: REM Michael J. Fox was born in the 1960s during the height of events such as the Canadian Centennial in 196 and the introduction of colour TV in Canada. Fox is a member of an age cohort. Which of the following sentences describes an age cohort? a. a group of people born at the same time b. a unit of study in gerontology c. a social institution 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. d. a social norm that is unique to a specific age group ANS: A REF: 26 BLM: HO What is the term for a period of life defined by society, such as adolescence or childhood? a. cohort b. life stage c. social age d. age grade ANS: D REF: 27 BLM: REM Why is the concept of “age cohorts” important in understanding aging? a. because people born in the same period experience the same historical events at the same time in their life cycle b. because it standardizes the effects of biology and history on the behaviours observed in the elderly c. because longitudinal studies cannot control for the effects of cultural changes on behaviours, and therefore nested designs need to be employed d. because qualitative, rather than quantitative, study designs are more effective in describing inter-cohort differences ANS: A REF: 27 BLM: HO 35.Which of the following does age stratification offer as an explanation of why society changes as people age? 36. a. Each generation of younger people reinvents social norms for itself and cannot rely on older cohorts for guidance. b. The norms and roles learned by each new cohort change with society. c. Social problems appear in predictable waves as each new age strata replaces the preceding cohort. d. Social structures are not permanent, as predicted by structural functionalism, but are fluid and respond to changes. ANS: B REF: 27 BLM: HO The text compares movement of age cohorts through the life cycle to movement on which of the following? a. an airplane b. an escalator c. a ship d. an elevator ANS: B REF: 27 BLM: REM 37.Which theory relies on structural functionalist assumptions? a. life course theory 38. b. cumulative advantage/disadvantage theory c. activity theory d. age stratification theory ANS: D REF: 27 BLM: REM What is the dialectic between individuals and societal structures as described by age stratification theory? a. Changes in values lead to changes in social organizations that influence the process of 39. aging. b. As people age, they take on the norms and roles of their age grade. c. New institutions are the result of the institutions that preceded them. d. Society is a homogeneous set of structures and functions that most people experience in the same way. ANS: A REF: 27 BLM: HO Which of the following is an example of the dialectic between individuals and societal structures described by age stratification theory? a. gradual change in radio station formats through market forces b. growing acceptance of extramarital sex among the older population, and how the young define their values c. effect of seniors’ needs on senior centre programs, and of programs on attitudes toward old age d. interaction of family, caregivers, and researchers to create the concept of Alzheimer’s disease ANS: C REF: 27 BLM: HO Which theory provides new ways to explore differences related to time, period, and cohort? a. structural investment theory b. disengagement theory c. age stratification theory d. continuity theory ANS: C REF: 27 BLM: REM Which of the following describes one of the problems with age stratification theory? a. It overlooks inequality within age cohorts. b. It does not examine the effects of a changing society on the values of its members. c. It overemphasizes norms and values, and ignores the effects of folkways and mores. d. It becomes inaccurate at the micro-level. ANS: A REF: 27 BLM: HO A limitation of the age stratification theory is that which of the following may have a greater influence on people’s lives than the norms and values related to their age grade? a. political changes b. socio-historical events c. inequality within age cohorts d. personal interpretations of the world ANS: C REF: 27-28 BLM: HO What does the life course perspective accomplish by incorporating social interaction and social structure within a functionalist perspective? a. It completely explains the observed differences in equality between age groups. b. It bridges the micro- and macro-levels of analysis. c. It avoids addressing issues related to conflicts between social groups. d. It provides a holistic approach to the study of gerontology. ANS: B REF: 28 BLM: HO 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. What occurs in the life course approach at the micro-level? a. It studies later life in relation to early events and conditions. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. b. It focuses on the struggles between social classes. c. It tries to explain the conflict within social classes. d. It shows how social change can create differences between age grades. ANS: A REF: 28 BLM: HO Why is the life course approach an improvement upon older functionalist theories? a. It more accurately describes the roles of older people in modern societies. b. It accounts for differences in life course patterns due to differences between and within age cohorts. c. It incorporates physiological, psychological, and social processes into a unified process. d. It links physical changes to specific social stages. ANS: B REF: 28 BLM: HO The life course approach specifically studies lives in terms of which of the following? a. dialectics b. work, family, and the individual c. transitions and trajectories d. shared norms and values ANS: C REF: 28 BLM: REM Within the life course approach, what are transitions considered to be? a. positive processes that enable achieving a healthy old age b. negative processes that prevent achieving a healthy old age c. relatively stable periods between life-cycle crises d. changes in social status or social roles ANS: D REF: 28-29 BLM: REM In the life course approach, what are trajectories? a. long-term patterns of stability and change b. a sequence of two or more transitions c. branch points on the continuum of the life cycle d. differences within age cohorts that affect aging ANS: A REF:28-29 BLM:HO Which of the following is an example of a trajectory in the life course approach? a. a lifelong marriage b. retirement c. parenthood d. death ANS: A REF: 29 BLM: HO Which of the following involves the view that society consists of problems between dominant and subordinate social groups? a. the normative perspective b. engagement theory c. modernization theory d. the conflict perspective ANS: D REF: 29 BLM: REM 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. Political economy theory grew out of the work of which of the following theorists? a. Weber b. Goffman c. Marx d. Durkheim ANS: C REF:30 BLM:REM What does Marxist theory predict regarding older workers? a. They use their experience and knowledge to hold on to resources and power in industry. b. They are less valuable to industry, and will be fired or retired to make room for faster, cheaper workers. c. They move up in a company until they reach their level of optimum effectiveness. d. They are more socially disadvantaged than most workers because of the stigma of old age. ANS: B REF: 30 BLM: REM According to political economy theory, what can the origins of older people’s problems be traced to? a. the political and economic structure of capitalist society b. ageism c. the decline in health and intelligence that occurs as people age d. the influence of middle-aged, middle-class values on social support programs ANS: A REF: 30 BLM: REM According to the political economy theory, social programs and policies for older people most benefit which of the following groups? a. retirees aged 65–74 b. elderly widows c. industrialists and the bourgeoisie d. middle-aged, middle-class professionals ANS: D REF: 30 BLM: REM Which of the following is a strength of the political economy approach to aging? a. It accurately explains micro-level phenomena. b. It openly discusses the poverty and other problems older people face, and it offers solutions. c. It incorporates the experiences of individuals to explain the differences between cohorts. d. It looks beyond the individual to understand the forces that shape individual aging. ANS: D REF:30 BLM:HO Which of the following is a problem with the political economy approach? a. It does not offer viable solutions to social problems. b. It pays too much attention to an individual’s interpretations of social life. c. It can overemphasize the poverty and problems older people face. d. It becomes inaccurate at the micro-level. ANS: C REF:30 BLM:HO Which of the following describes the feminist perspective of aging? a. It distorts the importance of gender in relation to other factors (such as race and social class). b. It states that gender defines life experiences, including aging. c. It reverses the traditional perspective by examining aging in terms of strengths, rather than 58. 59. weaknesses. d. It describes how women have distinct social advantages over men when it comes to aging. ANS: B REF:30-31 BLM:HO Which of the following is a strength of the feminist theory of aging? a. It is congruent with most “mainstream” feminist theories. b. It illustrates an ability to control for gender, and thereby focus on other social characteristics (such as race and social class). c. It acknowledges the “feminization of aging.” d. It recognizes the importance of social structure and individual characteristics. ANS: D REF: 31 BLM: HO Period effects cause changes in old age due to which of the following? a. similar background experiences b. age group differences c. the time of measurement d. physiological changes ANS: C REF: 33 BLM: HO 60. What is the term for the interpretive theory that is concerned with the social consensus that underlies issues between the generations? 61. 62. A researcher is examining the shared moral assumptions held by the members of a society to describe the effect of the society’s values on policy. Which of the following is the researcher using? a. moral economy theory b. phenomenology c. symbolic interactionism a. symbolic-interactionism b. moral economic theory c. conflict theory d. disengagement theory ANS: B REF: 32 BLM: REM d. cross-sectional theory ANS: A REF: 32 BLM: HO What does critical gerontology highlight? a. conflict between age groups over economic resources b. the transition from traditional to modern society c. movement from one age grade to the next d. limitations in mainstream gerontological theory ANS: D REF: 32 BLM: HO 63.Gerontologists describe three causes for changes in old age. Which of the following is one of these effects? a. economic effects b. period effects c. somatic effects d. social effects ANS: B REF: 33 BLM: REM 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 68. 70. As a cause for change in later life, age effects are due to which of the following? a. the effects of the aging population on a society b. changes within a culture that affect the aging process c. differences between people of different ages d. physical decline ANS: D REF: 33 BLM: HO Which of the following are cohort effects? a. the observation that no two people or age groups are exactly alike b. changes in culture that affect the development of groups differently c. shared backgrounds and experiences of people born around the same time d. researchers confusing age differences with age changes ANS: C REF: 33 BLM: HO Which of the following is an example of a period effect? a. genetic differences between age groups b. historical events c. wrinkled skin d. increased use of medication ANS: A REF: 33 BLM: HO What must the researcher be careful to do when conducting a study on the effects of aging? a. allow for a large margin of error due to variability in performance b. acknowledge the difference between age groups and changes due to aging c. use at least three methods of data analysis d. use only the cross-sectional methods of analysis ANS: B REF: 34 BLM: HO Which of the following defines age-group differences? a. differences in age between specific groups of people b. differences between cohort effects c. similarities of characteristics due to differing age groups d. differences due to the effects of aging ANS: B REF: 34 BLM: HO Which of the following defines age changes? a. the changes that occur between groups of people due to differences in aging b. age effects c. changes in characteristics due to aging d. differences due to the results of aging The influence of factors such as educational differences between cohorts on studies of aging confound observed age changes. What are these influences known as? a. mediators b. cohort variables c. differences between age groups d. socialization factors ANS: C REF: 34 BLM: REM 71. Researchers such as Baltes and Schaie (1982) found that a large part of the intelligence difference between younger and older people was due to which of the following? a. test biases b. biased subject sampling techniques c. differences in health status d. educational differences ANS: D REF: 34 BLM: REM What is the main problem with a cross-sectional method of analysis in investigating aging? a. It is very expensive. b. It requires a long period of time to show significant results. c. It confuses cohort effects with age changes. d. It cannot distinguish between cohort effects and environmental effects. ANS: C REF: 34 BLM: HO Which method of analysis looks at a single group of people through two or more points in time? a. cross-sectional analysis b. longitudinal research designs c. maturational change analysis d. time-lag comparison ANS: B REF: 34 BLM: REM Dr. Phillips is doing memory and reaction-time studies on a group of college graduates, and plans to re-test them when they retire. What is the term for this type of study? a. phenomenological experiment b. cross-sectional methodology c. longitudinal design d. test retest validation ANS: C REF: 34 BLM: HO What is the main benefit of longitudinal research designs? a. They avoid comparing different cohorts. b. They avoid environmental effects. c. They can isolate and study period effects. d. They give relatively accurate data quickly and at a low cost. ANS: A REF: 34 BLM: REM Which of the following describes a problem with longitudinal studies? a. Maturational effects confound changes due to aging. b. Cohort differences cannot be studied. c. Environmental changes confound age changes. d. Economic effects confound changes due to aging. ANS: C REF: 34 BLM: HO Which of the following is a problem with studies that follow a single group of older people over time? a. Differences between age groups cannot be compared. b. A shift in the sex ratio due to the deaths of more men than women. c. Differences between individual characteristics (such as ethnicity or social class) cannot be compared. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. d. Lack of randomization invalidates many types of statistical analysis. ANS: B REF: 34 BLM: HO How do time-lag comparisons work? a. by assigning members of different cohorts to groups based on specific characteristics b. by comparing different groups of people of the same age at different points in time c. by predicting a cohort’s characteristics in the future and then comparing the prediction with the actual outcomes d. by following a group for a short period of time and collecting as much data as possible ANS: B REF: 35 BLM: HO What is the overall purpose of studies that look at different groups of people of the same age at different points in time? a. to control for historical or cultural changes b. to measure differences between cohorts c. to generate hypotheses d. to resolve the APC paradox ANS: B REF: 35 BLM: HO The method of analysis that examines different groups of people of the same age at different points in time is known as a time-lag comparison. What is the main problem with this type of research? a. It confuses environmental effects with cohort effects. b. It confuses cohort effects with maturational effects. c. It cannot explain why a particular result has appeared. d. It confuses maturational effects with environmental effects. ANS: A REF: 36 BLM: HO Which of the following is a problem common to both longitudinal and time-lag studies? a. They take many years to complete. b. They confound cohort effects with placebo effects. c. Results are difficult to interpret without advanced statistical knowledge. d. Drop-outs can be controlled for through survival analysis statistical techniques. ANS: A REF: 36 BLM: HO Which of the following is a practical problem related to longitudinal and time-lag studies? a. results that describe experiences of past cohorts, but do not provide insight into the current experiences of the elderly b. a need for institutional support to continue studies beyond the career of the individual researchers c. wasted resources resulting from repeating procedures that had been done in previous phases of the study d. an inability to control for age effects ANS: B REF: 36 BLM: HO Some methodological problems have been solved by turning simple cross-sectional and simple longitudinal designs into which of the following? a. longi-sectional analyses b. random representative surveys c. sequential designs d. time-cohort comparisons 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. What is the term for a series of cross-sectional studies during a longer longitudinal study? a. multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) b. sequential design c. time-lag comparison d. longi-sectional analysis ANS: B REF: 36 BLM: REM Which of the following gerontological research designs allows for quick data collection? a. cross-sectional design b. cohort design c. sequential design d. trend analysis design ANS: C REF: 36 BLM: HO The Aging in Manitoba longitudinal study provides data on which type of needs for older people? a. healthcare b. educational c. financial d. social ANS: A REF: 36 BLM: REM Which of the following describes the methods used by researchers in aging? a. Methods depend on what best addresses these questions. b. Methods generally depend on the subjects’ physical condition. c. Methods are based on standard psychological tests and surveys. d. Methods are limited by statistical methods. ANS: A REF: 37 BLM: HO According to the text, what is still the dominant approach in most gerontological research? a. focus groups b. longitudinal studies c. quantitative methods d. observation ANS: C REF: 37 BLM: REM Which of the following describes qualitative methods in research on aging? a. They have decreased as a result of the increased use of computers to provide accurate statistical analyses. b. They are able to distinguish between environmental effects and cohort effects. c. They are less time consuming and expensive than other study methods. d. They use an interpretive theoretical approach to understand data. ANS: D REF: 38 BLM: HO What is the biggest limitation of quantitative data methods? a. Generalizing samples to a larger population is often not appropriate. b. The structured questions and responses cannot capture complex experiences or perceptions. ANS: C REF: 36 BLM: REM 91. 92. 93. c. These methods are significantly more expensive. d. They are difficult to combine with qualitative methods. ANS: B REF: 39 BLM: HO Which method allows researchers to capture the complexity of social interactions and behaviours? a. quantitative b. longitudinal c. qualitative d. triangulation ANS: C REF: 39 BLM: REM Which research method allows a researcher to gather data of a more sensitive nature? a. triangulation b. qualitative c. longitudinal d. quantitative ANS: B REF: 39 BLM: HO A gerontologist published data that he received from an elderly Alzheimer’s subject. The legal caregiver was unaware that this data was obtained from the subject, and was very upset upon learning about this issue. What type of ethical breach is this? 94. 95. 96. ANS: C REF: 39-40 BLM: HO Which practice breaks ethical research guidelines? a. causing a subject to feel valued in his/her participation b. refusing to identify research subjects c. interviewing subjects with advanced cancer d. causing injury or harm to a participant ANS: D REF: 40 BLM: HO What must a researcher do if the mental competency of a subject is in question? a. work to guarantee that the subject’s identity is kept secret b. abandon the study c. avoid interviewing such subjects, as the risks are too great d. ask someone with the legal authority to accede ANS: D REF: 40 BLM: HO P potential harm b. right to privacy c. true voluntary informed consent d. confidentiality What a. to b to . c. to d to . is the role of ethics review boards in universities and funding agencies? make sure a study is worthwhile check the credentials of the researcher evaluate potential harm to participants slow down research ANS: C REF: 40 BLM: HO 97. Which of the following describes applied research in Canada? a. It has been well funded since the 1970s, resulting in long-term improvements to many policies and social systems. b. It has received encouragement through government funding agencies. c. It has become tainted as a result of poor scientific rigor in several large studies. d. It has had limited impact on the field of gerontology. ANS: B REF: 41 BLM: REM 98. According to the text, which is a benefit to Canadian researchers when it comes to collaborative studies on aging? 99. 100. 101. 102. 103. a. no ethical breaches occur in such large studies. b. collaborative studies obtain larger amounts of government funding c. time frames for research are shorter for the collection of data d. these studies pool researchers’ skills and resources ANS: D REF: 42 BLM: REM Which of the following will gerontologists continue to do? a. use Marxist models of aging b. link the micro- and macro-levels of theory c. examine the effect of major societal structures on aging d. abandon everything but the micro-level of theory ANS: B REF: 42 BLM: HO Which type of research prizes the richness of everyday social life over numerical data? a. quantitative b. interpersonal c. qualitative d. numerative ANS: C REF: 42 BLM: REM According to the text, which of the following skills or methods will allow gerontology researchers the ability to increase upon their research opportunities about aging? a. increased education b. increased use of tablets and laptops c. increased reading ability d. increased typing skills ANS: B REF: 42 BLM: REM Which of the following describes video recording technology? a. It has created unforeseen privacy issues. b. It allows researchers to observe behaviour without a researcher present. c. It is dangerous to the elderly. d. It is not available to most researchers. ANS: B REF: 42-43 BLM: HO Which type of research do current studies of aging in Canada show a trend toward? a. longitudinal b. cross-sectional c. interdisciplinary d. qualitative ANS: C REF: 43 BLM: REM SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS 1. Define the term “critical gerontology.” Explain the concept, and list the four themes or “conceptual tools” that form the basis of critical gerontology. ANS: Student answers should include the following: Critical gerontology are the theoretical approaches that look within theory and research to critically examine and question the underlying and taken-for-granted assumptions about aging. This means that there is more to aging than we know or assume to know. The four themes involved in critical gerontology are: 1. ageing and politics of redistribution 2. gender and ageing 3. ageing, identity, and postmodernism 4. ageing and surveillance REF: 32 2. What is “age stratification theory?” Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this theory of aging. ANS: Student answers should include the following: Age stratification theory is also called the aging and society paradigm. This theory focuses on the movement of age cohorts over the life course and on “the role of social structures in the process of individual aging and the stratification by age in the society.” According to age stratification theory, people in each cohort move or flow through society’s predetermined age grades as they age. It also maintains that society also changes as people age, so the norms and roles learned by each new cohort changes as society changes. Advantages: 1. The age stratification theory has helped to separate age differences (between cohorts) from age changes over the life course (aging). 2. It highlights the impact of historical and societal changes on individuals and cohorts. 3. It shows the relationship between aging and social structure. Disadvantages: 1. People of the same age do not all experience the world in the same way. 2. The age stratification theory overlooks each person’s interpretation of the world. 3. It makes little reference to individual control or action. 4. The theory also makes little reference to the tensions and conflicts between social groups in society or to issues of power. 5. There is little focus on how characteristics such as gender, social class, race and ethnicity create inequalities within age cohorts. REF: 26-28 3. Describe what is meant by the term “risk society” as defined by Marshall and Bengton (2011). ANS: Student answers should include the following: There are certain inherent risks in life. An example would be the great recession of 2008. The recession demonstrated the uncertainties that can be expected in modern life when there is a crash of economic systems around the world. The risk society is one in which social institutions provide less “insurance” against the vicissitudes of life, such as job loss or loss of one’s health, and individuals are expected to assume responsibility to navigate these risks.” REF: 32-33 ESSAY QUESTIONS 1. Describe the framework of narrative gerontology, and provide three examples of narrative gerontology to explain this approach to the study of aging. ANS: Student answers will vary, but should include the following: Narrative gerontology seeks to understand aging from the “inside” of aging by examining the narratives or life stories that people tell in order to organize and make sense of their lives, and their experiences of aging. Individual examples will vary. REF: 31-32 2. List and discuss some of the larger-scale organizations performing gerontological research in Canada. ANS: Student answers will vary, but should include the following: Gerontology research in Canada has been undergoing some important shifts. The federal government is also funding a number of research studies. Some of the sources of information include the following organizations: 1. The Institute of Aging (IA) is a community of researchers from universities and hospitals across Canada. It also includes practitioners, volunteer health organizations, and older adults. They share a common goal: to increase knowledge about aging, to promote healthy aging, and to address the challenges of an aging population. 2. The Social and Economic Dimensions of an Aging Population (SEDAP) is a multidisciplinary research program located at McMaster University. The first phase of the program ran from 1999 to 2004. The second phase ran from 2005 to 2011. Both projects received funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). These projects produced research on a wide range of social and economic issues that will help to shape policies and programs to improve the lives of older Canadians. 3. In 2003, another interdisciplinary project entitled Workforce Aging in the New Economy: A Comparative Study of Information Technology Employment received funding from the SSHRC, and studied how growth in information technology, employment, and workforce aging in several countries has impacted the world. The results will assist with responding to an aging workforce and diversity in the workplace. REF: 41-42 3. Explain the feminist approach to aging. Then conduct research (on the Internet or in your local community) to find a woman who believes in the feminist approach. What are her theories about aging? Do you agree with her perspective? Explain. ANS: Student answers will vary, but should include the following: The feminist approach views gender as a defining characteristic in social interaction and life experiences, as well as in the process and experience of aging; gender is seen as socially constructed, with men being more advantaged than women in society. Some famous Canadian feminists include Therese Casgrain, Judy Rebick, Rita McNeil, Sarah McLachlan, Nellie McClung, Agnes Macphail, Maureen McTeer, Alanis Morrissette, and Ellen Page. REF: 30-31